Punto!PANANAW NG MALAYANG PILIPINO!

www.punto.com.ph

LuzonCentralCentralP 8.00

VOLUME 7 NUMBER 138WED - SATJUNE 18 - 21, 2014

PAGE 14 PLEASE

PDIC Executive Assistant Lincoln Remolong (2nd from left) and PDIC Vice President Teodoro Banaag (right) lead the ribbon cutting rites of the re-launching of the Rural Bank of Mexico. Joining them are (from left) Mayor Roy Manalastas and RBM President Victor Yuchengco Lim Jr.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RIC GONZALES

BY DING CERVANTES

ANGELES CITY- A contractor which reportedly fi nished recently a crucial anti-fl ooding project in Pampanga and Bulacan is also in the list of the Commission on Audit (COA) as having been involved in anomalies worth some P17 billion.

Contractor for Pinatubo project tagged in COA list for anomalies

CITY IN CONTRAST. The rusticity of a water lily-choked creek in Barangay San Felipe provides a stark contrast to the cosmopolitan skyline of downtown San Fernando dominated by houses of prayers -- the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Iglesia ni Cristo church -- and a temple of consumerism -- SM San Fernando Downtown. PHOTO BY BONG LACSON

CELEBRATING 52 years of dedicated communi-ty banking, Rural Bank of Mexico (RBM), un-der the new manage-ment group, Tune Abe Investment Corporation, recently launched addi-tional products and ser-vices catering to the fi -

Rural Bank of Mexico re-launchednancial needs of existing clientele and prospective small entrepreneurs in Mexico, Pampanga and in soon to open branch-es.

RBM envisions itself as the Bank of Choice in Central Luzon by pro-viding a wide array of

quality banking ser-vices effi ciently, re-newing commitment to stockholders and cli-ents, promoting fi nan-cial literacy and active-ly participating in the rapid development of the community.

PAGE 14 PLEASE

BY ELMO ROQUE

SAN JOSE CITY If the P2 per kilogram hike in the price of rice is bad enough and is eliciting

NE MILLERS WARN

Rice price may still go upnationwide howls, ex-pect it to jack up further especially during the lean months when the supply is really very thin.

This was the educat-

ed prediction voiced out by the president of the 26-member rice millers association here.

The increase in milled rice price was predict-

ed by Edgardo Alfon-so, president of the San Jose City Rice Millers Association (SJCRMA), in March when the

PAGE 14 PLEASE

BY MALOU DUNGOG

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT A Chinese steel man-ufacturer has pledged P9 billion for an export-ori-ented business project here.

The Panhua Group Co. Ltd. will engage in the pre-painting of steel coils and metal sheets and other allied indus-tries for export and do-mestic trade.

Subic Bay Metropol-

Chinese fi rm pledges P9-B investment

itan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said the SBMA board of directors ap-proved Panhuas pro-posal on its 258th board meeting in February 2014.

The Panhua Group is also engaged in ship-ping, real estate, mining, steel manufacturing and logistics business in Chi-na.

Garcia said the en-PAGE 12 PLEASE

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

2

BY ASHLEY MANABAT

MAKATI CITY The chairman of the Manila Electric Co. (Mer-alco) has assured consumers of the Pampanga Electric Co-operative II (Pelco II) of im-proved and better services.

Manuel V. Pangilinan said Pelco II will be overhauled starting with the putting up of a professional management team.

Meralco and its local part-ner Coms-Tech, led by its president and CEO Dennis An-thony Uy, have taken over the

MVP assures improved Pelco II servicesmanagement and operations of the ailing electric coopera-tive at the start of the month.

Pangilinan made the as-surance as he met with Pam-panga journalists shortly after the annual PLDT Stockholders Meeting the Shangri-La Hotel here last week.

The Meralco chair said Pel-co II will be establishing better interconnection facilities and substations to the national grid.

We have to put up better poles and wiring and internet connection by fi ber, he said.

The laying of underground fi -ber is also being considered, Pangilinan said, just like what they already did in parts of Leyte and northern Cebu.

Were laying the fi ber un-derground already. But in Pampanga we will do it slow-ly, he added.

We have a big invest-ment in Pelco II so consumers should expect improvement. People should look forward to a lot of changes, he stressed.

When asked if power rates will be jacked up, Pangilinan said, we have to work with-

in the approved distribution charge.

Pelco II distributes electric-ity to Mabalacat City and the towns of Guagua, Bacolor, Sta. Rita, Lubao, and Porac in Pampanga.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan said it is important to fi nd a suitable business in Pampanga.

Even if we have water and electricity, we have to fi nd a business indigenous to Pam-panga, he said.

If this is agriculture, were even looking into the planting of rice, Pangilinan said.

We are interested in that area in Candaba but we have to commercialize it. If we plant palay we could start with 1,000 hectares for a start, he said.

Pampanga has to fi nd its commercial reasons. Ano ba ang magagawa sa Pampanga ng mga negosyante? (What can businessmen do in Pam-panga?) he asked.

The acknowledged busi-ness tycoon said Pampanga could also be a trading hub especially Angeles City as well as an educational center and sports complex.

WINNERS. The Hotels and Restaurants Association of Pampanga, Inc. First Cook-Off Challenge fi rst place winners for school division Michael Angelo Guillermo and Melvin Melchor of Dominican College of Tarlac and for professional division Jonard Guiwan and Derik Balilo of Doz Mestizos Restaurant (holding plaques from left) pose jubilantly with judges DOT Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico, Chef Michael Caffrey, Angeles First Lady Herminia Pamintuan, Chef Claude Tayag, Chef Michelle Adrillana and Chef Kenneth Cacho (top from left) and HARP offi cers headed by Mitch Otsuru (5th from left). The whole day event entertained the audience not only with the actual cooking competition but also with fl are-tending show and cooking demo from popular Chef Michelle Adrillana. HARP aims to strengthen camaraderie among the members, promote local talents and actively participate in the development of the tourism industry in Region 3. PHOTO BY NING CORDERO

BY ARMAND M. GALANG

CABANATUAN CITY May-or Julius Cesar Verga-ra asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to submit to the city government its detailed plans and program of works on the on-going re-blocking activities on several sections of nation-al roads here which caused woes to commuters, especial-ly students.

Vergara said the lack of systematic action in the im-plementation of the P11.2-mil-lion Cabanatuan City-Papaya Road and the P35.5-million Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road has resulted to undue sufferings of city residents.

Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road links eastern Ecija munici-palities and Aurora to this ur-banized city while Cabanat-uan City-Papaya Road to the southern parts of the province.

Vergara said he got the full grasp of the situation in such roads when he made it part of his 12- to 20-kilometer dai-ly walk upon receiving com-

Mayor slams DPWHon re-blocking projects

plaints from constituents.Tinitingnan ko kung tama

ba yung ginagawa nila, he said. Vergara has sent a for-mal letter to the Nueva Ecija Engineering District Offi ce 2 (NEED2) where he also urged the offi ce to submit its construc-tion safety, health program and traffi c management plan.

Napakaraming mga prob-lema ang nakita ko, kaya sabi ko ihinto yang kalokohan na yan dahil unang una a hindi man lang maglagay ng fl ag-man, he said.

The mayor assailed the lack of consultation with the local government, which he stressed is a requirement of the law, that may have caused the chaos. The projects are being implemented by Lisa Construction and FL Reguyal Construction Corp.

Ulysses Llado, chief of NEED 2, admitted that com-muters sometimes get stuck for as long as one hour in con-struction areas. He advised drivers to be cautious even as he vowed to do everything to ease the woes of commuters.

BY ERNIE ESCONDE

BAGAC, Bataan- Mayor Ram-il del Rosario on Monday an-nounced that he has stopped the extraction and hauling of boulders here pending com-pletion of required documents, even as he feared this will cause delay in the construc-tion of the wharf being pre-pared for the forthcoming Asia Pacifi c Economic Conference in 2015.

Sa pagkakaalam ko kum-pleto ang dokumento ng pro-ponent na Las Casas Filipi-nas de Acuzar na aprubado ng Environment and Natural Resources Offi ce (ENRO) ng Bataan Capitol ngunit kung kulang, kumpletuhin bago itu-loy ang paghahakot uli ng mga bato, the mayor said.

Mayor stops quarrying butDahil sa kapirasong papel,

mapipigilan ang pag-asenso ng bayan ng Bagac. Mabib-inbin ang paggawa ng pier at baka hindi umabot sa 2015 kaya magkaroon sana ng kon-siderasyon, Del Rosario said.

The Mines and Geo-Sci-ences Bureau of the Depart-ment of Environment and Natural Resources claimed that the alleged quarrying of boulders in Sitio Ulingan in Banawang, Bagac has no per-mit.

ENRO Godofredo de Guz-man, however, insisted that there is no quarrying in the area but land development.

The mayor said he thought that the permit from the ENRO was enough aside from the fact that the boulders were taken from private proper-

ty whose owners gladly gave their consent. Walang may-ari ng bukid na nagrereklamo da-hil walang mapipinsala, inaa-lis lamang ang mga bato para matamnan nang maayos, Del Rosario noted.

He said it was like hitting two birds with one stone the land will be more produc-tive after the boulders are re-moved while at the same time the fi rst class wharf being built for the APEC will materialize.

Ang batong kinukuha ay dito rin naman sa Bagac ginagamit, the mayor said.

Del Rosario said it was the Bataan ENRO that issued the permit while he and Banawang Chairman Carlito Bautista gave their No Objection cer-tifi cation knowing that it will not be a threat to the environment

and the people but will give big economic gains to the moun-tain municipality.

Kung bundok ito hindi ako papayag. Walang maga-ganap na landslide o pagba-ha dahil kapatagan ang kinu-kunan ng malalaking bato. At hindi magiging dahilan ito ng pagkatuyo ng ilog, the Bagac mayor said.

He asked his detractors which he claimed as few to set aside politics and help him prepare for the APEC where world leaders will be coming.

Sa ano mang pag-asen-so tulad sa Hongkong, Subic Freeport at maging sa Li-may (Bataan), may kaaki-bat na sakripisyo subalit dito sa Bagac walang collateral damage, walang masisira sa amin, Del Rosario said.

Former Bagac Mayor Mel Teopengco, boulder hauling contractor, said they are taking out fl oating boulders. Malal-aking batong nakalutang ang kinukuha namin at nakakatu-long pa nga kami sa mga mag-sasaka, he said.

Per order of Del Rosario, they stopped operation. May timetable ang construction ng

pier kung kailan ito dapat ma-yari. Sa nangyaring stoppage, magkakaroon ng delay, Teo-pengco said.

He denied claims that trees were felled and destroyed. Walang punong kahoy na sinira dahil pasingit-singit at parang dinudukot namin ang mga bato sa tabi ng puno. Kung may nasira man, kaunt-ing parte lang ng puno at mabubuhay din ito, the former mayor said.

Undergoing construction at the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, owned by busi-nessman Jerry Acuzar, is an eight-meter by 300-linear-me-ter wharf that municipal ad-ministrator Nick Ancheta said will be more beautiful and bet-ter than any other fi rst class wharfs in the country.

Banawang village head Bautista said farmers in the area consented to having the boulders removed.

Hindi babaha dahil ang ki-nukuha na malalaking bato ay sa ibabaw ng lupa at walang ginagawang paghuhukay. Ang mga bato hindi sa bundok ki-nukuha kundi sa kapatagan, Bautista said.

THINK GREEN

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

3

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

4

BIOMASS GASIFICATION PROJECT. Pampangas Best Board Director and Bacolor Mayor Jose Maria O. Hizon (center) shake hands with J.V. Emmanuel de Dios, CEO General Electric (GE), Phils after signing contract for the fi rst 4 MW Advance Energy Technologies project. Looking on are Steward West, AET president-CEO (right) and Stuart Dean, CEO Global Growth Organization-ASEAN; John G. Rice , vice chairman, GE Global Growth Organization; John Alcardo, regional manager, GE Distributed Power-ASEAN; and Carlos Clement III, market development director, GE Philippines. PHOTO COURTESY OF JESS MALABANAN

BY DING CERVANTES

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Unyon ng Mag-gagawan sa Agricultura (UMA) decried yesterday an-other scheme of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) called sugar block farming at Hacienda Luis-ita, crafted allegedly to benefi t Pres. Aquinos family which used to own the vast estate in Tarlac.

In a statement, UMA said DAR has been citing great opportunities in sugar block farming, to con-vince recent benefi ciaries of land reform at the haci-enda to participate in it.

It will only ensure the profi tability for the Cojuan-go and Aquino-owned Central Azucarera de Tarlac, at the expense of the thousands of Hacienda Luisita workers, UMA said.

UMA explained that sugar block farming in es-sence is the offi cial structural complement of the illicit and unjust aryenda system now prevalent in the ha-cienda. Under the aryenda system, a land reform benefi ciary who has no capital needed to make his hacienda land productive, lease out their farm to an aryandador for a meager P7,000 a year for a three-year period.

The DAR claimed it had already distributed land titles to about 96 percent of land reform benefi ciaries at Hacienda Luisita.

But UMA said that behind the much-hyped land distribution of the Luisita estate is in fact a cunning and predatory scheme which perpetuates the haci-endero control of the Cojuangco-Aquinos over thou-sands of hectares of agricultural lands.

It explained that block farming allows a farm man-ager to control 30 to 60 hectares of individually-titled farm lots. So-called farmer benefi ciaries would have to place their lots as their share in a block.

After DARs sham land distribution, farmers whose lots would be included in a block farm would just be hired as the slaving farmworkers that they were for decades and will split profi ts, if any, with the Agrarian Reform Benefi ciaries Organization (ARBO) offi cers and fi nanciers an organization that will es-sentially serve the same function as the Cojuang-co-Aquinos Luisita Estate Management Group, UMA also said.

FARMERS CLAIM

New DAR scheme at Luisita to restore Cojuangco control

It noted that under this scheme, farmers will have practically no control over their lots in a block farm and will lose their right to till.

UMA said that the most glaring manifestation of this fraudulent government scheme is the designa-tion of Arsenio Valentino, a known Cojuangco-Aqui-no sugar supervisor under the Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) as head of DARs co-called ARBO.

It also cited the active role of former Land Trans-portation Offi ce chief Virgue Torres in the aryendo system now prevailing in some parts of the hacienda.

The group compared the sugar block farming to the Stock Distribution Option (SDO) implemented in the hacienda during the term of the late Pres. Cora-zon Aquino, in lieu of actual land distribution. It noted that the Supreme Court later revoked SDO.

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

5

BY ASHLEY MANABAT

MAKATI CITY Despite the advancement in technol-ogy, a common complaint is now emerging among netizens on the slow and expensive internet con-nection in the country.

The problem has been plaguing telecommunica-tion companies as several lawmakers have voiced out their concerns on the problem including Senators Bam Aquino and Loren Legarda.

But at the annual PLDT Stockholders meeting last June 10 at the Shangri-La Hotel here, Director Ray C. Espinosa said those published reports (that the Philippines has the slowest and most expensive in-ternet connection) are very misleading.

During the meeting, a motion on the fl oor from a stockholder posed the question which was ad-dressed by Espinosa.

He explained that there are three independent reports from the United Nations (UN) which consis-tently show that the Philippines is not the most ex-pensive, neither is it the slowest.

Espinosa said as more subscribers come in, the price (of internet connection) will go down further.

He said the problem started in a Facebook post and has actually taken a life of its own which is a far cry from the UN report and two other independent re-ports listing the Philippines as number four and fi ve.

PLDT Chair Manuel V. Pangilinan said the Philip-pines is in the middle of the pack, its not the slowest but its not the fastest so we are in the middle.

He added, Maybe we are number four in speed and number fi ve in the most expensive, but we are not the cheapest. We are improving. The CAPEX of PLDT is getting bigger.

He explained that the key is laying out more fi ber not only in transmission but also in distribution. So now we have more and more fi ber to the home and more fi ber to the cellphones because you need fi ber to support LTE (long term evolution) and we are roll-ing out LTE to cover about half the population by the end of this year.

He also said that 100 percent of cities and towns will be covered by HSPA (high speed packet access) by the end of the year which has a speed of about 7.2 mega-bits per second (mbps).

Smart working to improve slow internet connection

Festive FlairNing Cordero

HAUSLAND Development Corporation (HLDC), one of the leading developers and prime pro-vider of mid to high-cost housing in the region, recently inaugurated its newest campaign Best Choice for Homexperience Signature Resi-dences.

Exclusivity, fl exibility of payment and pre-mium are the unique features that Homexpe-rience Signature Residences offers to clients, working executives and entrepreneurs. It brings in slices of the best of everything for quality liv-ing - best investment, best place, best location thats why it is the Best Choice!

Timog Residences, as the offi cial venue for the said inauguration and one of the premiere home providers under Homexperience Signa-ture Residences umbrella, depicts what it is to be simply the best. Inspired by the four sea-sons of the year Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring, its brightly-colored spacious hous-es, with 200 sqm lot area, carport, available in one or two-storey units and from one to four bedroom units, capture the best life comfort, luxury and style.

Equipped with its own fi tness center, game room, childrens playground, basketball court, beach type swimming pool, gazebo, air con-ditioned multi-function hall and entrance gate guarded 24/7,theres more to enjoy at Timog Residences. The Pavilion is ideal for birthday parties, wedding receptions, corporate meet-

With Hausland, everything is simply the bestings and other activities. A serene and peaceful community, Timog Residences has the best lo-cation providing residents easy access to Clark International Airport and commercial areas.

During the event, guests experienced the best night. From an intimate and elegant set up, sumptuous food, amazing performances by famous Mulatto Band, former teen super-star Antoinete Taus, The Voice Philippines art-ists Deb Victa and Daryl Shy and AUF dance troupe and glee club to rubbing elbows with the best people in both political and business in-dustries.

Indeed, Homexperience Signature Resi-dences lives up to its campaign as the Best Choice the best choice to everything you will ever need.

Call (045) 625-7112 or log on to www.hom-experience.com.ph to fi nd out more about Ho-mexperience Signature Residences.

***I miss writing. I took a break for more than nine months to look after my pregnancy for my third child-fi rst baby girl. It was an ex-citing journey, after eleven years, I needed to go through the morning sickness, caesarian delivery, weight gain, changing nappies and sleepless nights again. Now that Ive relative-ly adjusted to my normal state, Im blissful and grateful Ill get to write for you again, my dear readers. So heres to more happy reads with you! ***

Unveiling of inaugural marker during the launch of Homexperience Signature Residences Best Choice campaign (L-R) Mariano G. Tan (Treasurer HLDC), Wilfredo M. Tan (President and CEO HLDC), Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, Atty. Victor Lazatin landowner/partner and Pepito Tan (Board Member HLDC).

The PavilionThe Pavilion

Summer model unitSummer model unit

Song performance by Antoinette TausSong performance by Antoinette Taus

PHOTOS BY RIC GONZALESPHOTOS BY RIC GONZALES

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

6

LLL Trimedia Coordinators, Inc.Publisher

General ManagerEditor

Marketing ManagerLayout

Circulation

Atty. Gener C. EndonaCaesar Bong LacsonJoanna Nia V. CorderoDondie B. VenturaJojo Manalo/Lacson Macapagal

EDGAR V. MOVIDOFounder

Business & Editorial offi ce at Unit B Essel Commercial Center,McArthur Highway, Telabastagan, City of San Fernando

Tel. No. (45) 6250244 Cel. No. 09174811416puntogitnangluzon@yahoo.com or marketing@punto.com.ph

http://www.punto.com.ph

Punto! Central Luzon is a proud member ofThe Philippine Press Institute

E d i t o r i a lacaesar.blogspot.com

Zona Libre Bong Z. Lacson

OOpinion

Look ma,no Revilla

HERES YET another list titled PDAF Releases of Upper House for Fiscal Year 2013 with the annotation As of 17-06-2014 10:23:09.

ANGARA, EDGARDO J. P100,000,000CAYETANO, ALAN PETER S. P 48,000,000EJERCITO-ESTRADA, JINGGOY P. P 95,500,000ENRILE, JUAN PONCE F. P 75,000,000ESCUDERO, FRANCIS G. P 98,500,000GUINGONA, TEOFISTO III P 61,630,000HONASAN, GREGORIO II B. P 93,000,000LAPID, MANUEL M. P100,000,000LEGARDA, LOREN B. P 89,500,000MARCOS, FERDINAND JR. R. P 50,000,000PANGILINAN, FRANCIS N. P 99,750,000PIMENTEL, AQUILINO III L. P 2,500,000SANTIAGO, MIRIAM DEFENSOR D. P100,000,000SOTTO, VICENTE III C. P100,000,000TRILLANES, ANTONIO IV F. P 87,920,000VILLAR, MANUEL JR. B. P 74,600,000

For a grand total of P1,275,900,000. No, the list did not come from

Janet Lim-Napoles. Neither from Benhur Luy nor Panfi lo Lacson. It was the Department of Budget and Management that released it just this Tuesday, saying that the appropriations were made before the Supreme Courts ruled the priority development assistance fund was unconstitutional and that most of the releases were made before the May 2013 elections. See some fait accompli there.

So who still remain untainted? The biggest surprise here though:

No Revilla, Ramon Jr. in the list!Whoa!

JAPAN RELAXES visa requirements for Filipinos. No news could have made me happier, having already booked with the wife a

November fl ight to Tokyo to visit our son. Without even applying for a visa. Our confi dence of getting one buttressed by

this development, notably the announcement from the Japanese embassy website: Following todays meeting of the Ministerial Council on the Promotion of Japan as a Tourism-Oriented Country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to endeavor to realize the exemption of visa requirements as promptly as possible and to implement, as an initial step, the following substantial relaxations of visa requirements for nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam, in cooperation with these partner countries.

While it would not be my first time to Japan, having visited Nagoya and Kyoto in 1997, I have no idea what it takes to get a Japanese visa. Our group of eight then, led by Gov. Lito Lapid, went through a non-appearance scheme, officially invited as we were.

The nearest thing I could relate to is my four-fold experience with the US embassy in getting a visa. Uncanny how this piece on my second US visa surfaced in my blog, eight years to the day it happened. Originally published in the defunct Pampanga News:

Getting a US visaJUNE 15, 2006. 9:20 A.M. Shaded by a small parasol from the fast heating morning sun, the guard handed back my all-important confi rmation notice and courteously said: Your schedule, sir, is at 9:30 yet. Come back after 10 minutes.

Behind the concrete barricades I sought shelter under the canopy of those old balite or are they banyan? trees to while the time away.

A heavily-jeweled lady, in the shade too, started a conversation: her schedule was 11:30 pa, she felt certain shed have her visa renewed as shed come back and did not go TNT on her trip to the States, unlike some miserable folks abusing the hospitality of America. I asked her how long was the visa given her? Ten years, multiple entry. And how many times had she used it? Just once. Okay. I wished her luck.

Exactly 9:30 I was told to go through Gate 3, where I had to pass a metal detector and place my bag through an X-ray machine, before taking my place at the end of long queue to a window marked A-L surnames.

Snatches of animated conversation eavesdropped along the line run the gamut from the spiritual to the illegal.

I did not miss a single Wednesday in Baclaran praying the novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help for two months, said a youngish matron pining for her fi rst visa.

My novena was to St. Jude, replied an older one, adding that her supplication to the patron of impossible cases was prompted by her two previous rejections, err, denial of her request for a visa.

The minimum three months is all I need, said a thirty-something. She had no qualms in revealing her intent to stay in America, no matter the cost, even marrying a bed-ridden octogenarian.

We have visas na. We frequent the US, you know. Were here to apply for our baby, a young couple bragged, an infant asleep in his fathers arm. On their turn at the window, the wife was horrifi ed to fi nd that her baby needed a photograph in his application.

It was not stated in the requirements, she tried to rationalize with the stern-looking American lady at the window.

The slot for the photo is just too big for you to miss, came the retort.

To her rescue, someone in the line said there were photographers just outside the guardhouse offering fi ve-minute services. So, with her husband and baby, off she ran.

After 25 minutes, it was my turn at the window. Passport and visa application were checked, found in proper order and passed on to an assigned consular offi cer, I presumed. A numbered stub was given me with the instruction Go to the pavilion and wait for your number to be called. Good day.

A hundred others were waiting there seated on benches under a signboard Waiting to be fi nger-scanned. Instructions on the proper placement of the left and right index fi ngers on the scanner were posted all around to facilitate the process. Numbers were being called in batches of fi ve, and fl ashed on a lighted digital bar at the top of the door.

It was 11:00 A.M. when my number, 3184, was called. So with 3180 onto 3185, I entered

an SRO consular offi ce. Windows 1 and 2 were for fi nger-scanning, Windows 3 11 for the interview.

A scar on the left index fi nger of number 3183 warranted 20 minutes of questioning. It took another fi ve minutes for the scanner in-charge to fi nish scribbling notes on a yellow post-it she affi xed to 3183s passport. Denied ito, I mused.

My own turn to be fi nger-scanned was a breeze. It did not take more than two minutes. And I got myself a seat after fi ve minutes.

To pass the time, I engaged in a guessing game. At every fl ash of a number, I took a quick look at the visa applicant and deemed if a visa would be forthcoming or not.

Nine of ten, I was right in my judgment. Based not on psychological profi ling but on mere observation. Two extreme types of character were denied visas: those who came in too weak angst-ridden, nervous, fi dgety, obsequious; and those who came in too strong swaggering in confi dence, obnoxious.

There was this business-type guy in coat and tie who, soon as he came to Window 4, pulled out the contents of his bulging attach case land titles, bank books, SEC papers, and laid them on the counter. The consular offi cer was not apparently impressed by this display of wealth as he promptly denied the application, without even asking him any question. Lesson: Dont pre-empt the offi cer. Take out your supporting documents only when asked.

A matron made the sign of the cross when her number was called. She went to Window 6 as if she was ready to faint ashen, trembling legs and all. She too was denied.

On Window 8, a group of three women and one lawyer-looking guy engaged the consular offi cer in a heated argument when one of the ladies was denied her application. Even after a new number was fl ashed for that window, the four refused to leave. A guard had to escort the four out of the offi ce.

Pity those who would be assigned to Window 8, I told my seatmates. It would be rejection there henceforth.

Much to our chagrin, 3180-3185 were assigned there. And so it was as I said. It was hello and goodbye to 3180 in less than one minute. One question and it was all over for the rest. A denial, seemingly at face value, for 3183. Then, it was me.

Good luck po, 3185 called out after me.Good morning, Mister Caesar, greeted

the consular offi cer. It was 11:55. Of course I answered Good morning too and added Howr you doing?

Good, was the reply. As he scanned on his desktop what I presumed to be my application and some other data of my previous stay in the USA.

So you were in the States last year?Yes, and in the two previous years.What was your longest stay?Five months in 2000.Why did you stay that long?Had to seek refuge in the States and let

things cool back home after an ambush that killed three of my friends.

Oh. Are you a travel writer? Did you write for newspapers when you were in the States?

PAGE 7 PLEASE

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

7

Napag-uusapanLangFelix M. Garcia

I am a political and economic journalist. I did some writing when I was there for the newspapers here in the Philippines.

Would you like to avail yourself of a journalist visa so you can pursue your profession in the States?

I prefer a tourist visa. I go to the States for leisure not for work.

Okay. How about your wife, does she have a visa.

Yes. She was in the States in 1981, err, 2001.

Are you traveling with her?Yes. It will be our fi rst together.

Manaig nawaang katotohanan

NGAYONG nasampahan na ng kaukulangsakdal si Napoles sa Sandigangbayan,marahil may iba pang maituro yanna nangumisyon din sa pork barrel scam

Kundi man direktang silay nakaharapni Janet hinggil sa isyu ryan ng PDAF,pero nakinabang din at nakahawakng milyones mula sa pinaka-utak

Ng naturang scam na hinihinalangbaka kabilang sa manhik, manaog dyansa Palasyo kaya di makanti man langng basta kung sino ang opisyal na yan

Ikaw man ba itong sumandal sa paderna katulad nitong isa sa confi dent ni Ate, pero kakampi ka na ni Sir,makakaya nga bang ikaw ay takutin?

Kung kaya naman ang hindi ka-alyadona isinasangkot ni Napoles mismoay balisa na at di malaman nitokung saang dako ng daigdig tutungo?

Kung di nyan makayang sariliy iligtassa pagkakadawit sa isyu ng PDAF,sanhi ng kanilang pagkadawit sukatkundi man sila ay direktang kasabwat

Dahilan na rin sa ang pumasok bastasa anumang bagay na maanomalyaay tunay naman ding malapit kumbagasa sakit ng ulot malaking disgrasya

Na kadalasan ay karsel ang hantungankapag nasilat at walang matakbuhansa oras na silay manganib sa isanggrabeng pangyayaring di inaasahan.

Tulad halimbawa nina Bong Revilla,Juan Ponce Enrile at Jinggoy Estrada,Na ngayon pa lamang ay nakahanda naang pasilidad na paglalagyan nila

Oras na lumabas ang warrant of arrestat sila ay agad na ipadarakip,ng Sandigangbayan o Department of Justice,bagamat sila ay di pa nalilitis.

Di ko sinasabing ang tatlong Senadoray nagkasala nga yan ng pandarambong,pero mas malamang silay makukulong,bago ang sarili ay maipagtanggol

At kahit di pa man napapatunayanna nagkasala yan sa ibinibintang,bunsod na rin nitong ang asuntong ganyanay karaniwan ng di puedeng pyansahan

(Tiyak kalaboso muna itong accusedsa isang heinous crime, kaya walang lusotang itinuturong mga nangurakot, kung mapatunayan na talagang sangkot).

Aywan lang kung lahat ng nasa listahanni Napoles o ni Luy ay sabay-sabayna ipadarakip ng Sandigangbayan,kahit di malinaw ang pagkasangkot nyan

Dala ng posibleng silay idinawitnga lamang nitong si Janet Lim-Napolesupang ang DOJ ay kanyang mapilitna payagan siyang maging star witness

Pero ano pa man ang kahahantunganng imbestigasyon sa nasabing scam,huwag nawang ang grabeng kasinungalinganang manaig, kundi ang katotohanan!

Zona LibreFROM PAGE 6 Okay. Enjoy your trip. Heres your yellow

card. Make arrangements for your visa delivery at the pavilion.

Thanks. Have a nice day.Have a nice day too.At the Del Bros counter at the pavilion, I was

making my delivery arrangements when 3185 came. She too got a visa. For three months to Guam. No, she wont go TNT there. She told me she had an examination to take pursuant to her masteral degree.

June 19. 4:42 P.M. A Del Bros messenger in motorcycle delivered my passport. Affi xed is a fi ve-year multiple entry B1-B2 visa. Deng Pangilinan would have ejaculated: God bless America!

NI DINO BALABO

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOSHindi lamang isang progan-dista si Gat Marcelo H. Del Pi-lar, siya ang utak din ng Kati-punan.

Ito ang bunga ng masus-ing pananaliksik ni King Cor-tez sa mga nalathala at hindi nalathalang salaysay ng mga kasapi ng Kataas-taasang Ka-galang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) patungkol kay Del Pilar na kilala rin sa kanyang pangalan sa panulat na Plaridel.

Bukod dito, ipinaliwanag ni Cortez na ang Kilusang Pro-paganda na pinangunahan nina Plaridel, Mariano Ponce, Dr. Jose Rizal at Graciano Lo-pez-Jaena sa Espanya ay hin-di hiwalay sa kilusang Kati-punan sa Pilipinas na iniuug-nay ng mga aklat pangkasay-sayan kay Gat Andres Bonifa-cio.

Sa halip, ang Kilusang Pro-paganda ay bahagi ng samah-ang Katipunan na kumilos sa Pilipinas, Espanya at Hong-kong na ang pangulo ay si Plaridel na siya ring may ini-syatiba ng pagtatayo nito.

Bilang isang kilusan, ang Katipunan ay may sariling saligang batas, istraktura ng gobyerno, at mga sistema da-hil ang pangunahing layunin nito ay mapabagsak ang nooy naghaharing pamahalaang Kastila sa bansa, at mapalitan ng pamahalaan ng mga Pilipi-no.

Ngunit ang layuning ito ng Katipunan ay lihim at nasa dulo na ng agenda, at ang nasa una at ang pangharap na layunin ay isinulong ng ki-lusang Propaganda sa pama-magitan ng kampanya sa Es-panya upang magkaroon ng reporma sa Pilipinas.

Buong-buo ang plano ni Del Pilar para sa pagpagpa-palaya sa bayan at pagkaka-roon ng mga Pilipino ng saril-ing pamahalaan. Lahat ng ki-los nila ay nakaplano at may malinaw na layunin, sabi ni Cortez sa isang esklusibong panayam.

Bahagi ng mga plano ni Plaridel ay ang pagsusulong ng reporma bago magsagawa ng rebolusyon.

Ipinaliwanag ni Cortez na sa kabila na si Plaridel ay na-kilala bilang isang dakilang propagandista, hindi nakahi-walay ang kilusang ito sa ki-lusang Katipunan sa bansa at maging isa ibayong dagat.

Bilang patunay, ipinakita niya ang nilalaman ng nalath-alang salaysay ni Aguedo del Rosario, isa sa mga unang kasapi ng KKK.

Batay sa salaysay ni Del Rosario,ang Katipinan ay iti-natag noong Hulyo 7,1892 sa

Di lang propagandista, utak pa ng Katipunan si Plaridel

pangunguna nina Deodato Arellano, Teodoro Plata, La-dislao Diwa, Valentin Diaz at Andres Bonifacio sa pamam-agitan ng inisyatiba ng aboga-dong si Plaridel na nooy nasa Barcelona kasama ng iba pang Pilipinong nagsasagawa ng kampanya para sa reporma sa Pilipinas.

Sa nasabi ring salaysay, inihayag ni Del Rosario ang layunin ng Katipunan na mag-kamit ang Pilipinas ng lehi-timong reporma na magpa-paunlad sa mga kondisyon sa bansa sa huli ay mapalaya ang Pilipinas sa pamamahala ng Espanya.

Malinaw sa pahayag ni Aguedo Del Rosario na si Del Pilar ang utak o mastermind ng pagbubuo at pagtatayo ng Katipunan, pero dahil nasa Espanya siya noon, ang nan-guna dito sa Pilipinas ay ang bayaw niyang si Deodato Arel-lano at sina Bonifacio, ani Cortez.

Bukod dito, binanggit din ni Cortez ang bahagi ng libro-ing inilathala ni Father John Schummacher patungkol sa Katipunan kung saan ay sina-bi nito na ang propaganda ay the fi rst step rather than the ultimate goal.

Binigyang diin pa niya na batay sa mga nalathalang tala ng kasaysayan, sumali na la-mang si Bonifacio sa Kati-punan na nagpapatunay na hindi siya ang nagbuo at nag-tatag nito.

Ayon pa kay Cortez, ang pahayag na ito ni Del Rosa-rio na inilathala ng National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) ay nagpa-patunay na hindi lamang isang inspirasyon sa Katipunan ang panulat ni Plaridel, sa halip ay may direktang partisipasyon ang panglalawigang bayani ng Bulacan.

Batay sa iba pang tala, hin-di naputol sa inisyatiba ang partisipasyon ni Plaridel sa Katipunan, sa halip ay siya ang umakda ng by-laws o mga batas nito, maging ng ko-digo penal ng Katipunan na ang mga kopya ay nakuha ng mga Kastilang sumalakay sa pinagtataguan ng mga doku-mento ni Bonifacio matapos mabunyag ang kilusan.

Ayon kay Cortez, ang pag-akda ng mga patakaran at Saligang Batas ng Kati-punan ay isa sa mga kontri-busyon ni Plaridel bilang isang matagumpay na abogado.

Dahil ang mga impor-masyong ito ay hindi na bago, iginiit ni Cortez na maging sina Efi panio delo Santos, Renato Constantino at ang manunulat ng kasaysayan na si Zaide ay alam ang mga ito.

Ngunit isa man sa kanila ay walang tumindig at nagpakila-

la kay Plaridel bilang utak ng Katipunan.

Batay sa kanyang panana-liksik, ang mga paninindigan ni Plaridel ay nagsimula sa Bula-can kayat sinabi niya na ang konsepto ng pagkabansa ng Pilipinas ay nagmula sa Bula-can.

Binigyang diin niya na ba-tay sa mga ulat ng mga Kastila sa Bulacan, si Plaridel at ang kanyang kaanak na si Luis Del Pilar ay ang mga di na nasu-sulat na batas sa Bulacan.

Ito ay nangangahulugan na kahit walang opisyal na posisyong hinahawakan sina Plaridel sa Bulacan ay sila ang nasusunod.

Isang edukadong lider at mula sa pamilyang ilustrado si Del Pilar, pero ang kanyang husay at galing ay napag-ug-nay niya ang pagiging edu-kado at ilustrado sa masang Pilipino. Nakatuntong ang kanyang mga paa sa lupa at hindi nanatili sa pedestal ng mga ilustrado. Kaya ilustrado man o mayaman at mahirap, maging mga Kastila ay pinaki-kinggan siya. Ganyan kalaki ang impluwensiya ni Plaridel, siya ang kingpin sa Bulacan noong panahon niya, ani Cor-tez.

Bilang patunay na si Plar-idel ang di nasusulat na batas sa Bulacan, binanggit ni Cor-tez ang bahagi ng nilalaman ng aklat na inilathala ng Bulak-enyong si Antonio Valeriano.

Sa libro din ni Valeriano na-tala ang plano ni Plaridel para sa Katipunan kung saan ay binigyang diin niya ang dala-wang kilusan na kikilos sa li-wanag at sa dilimito ay ang Kilusang Propaganda na ku-milos sa liwanag at Kilusang Katipunan na kumilos ng pa-lihim hanggang sa nabunyag.

Iginiit pa niya na batay sa mga tala, may pagkakataon sa Malolos na halos ay dalawang buwan na walang nagpapa-binyag dahil sa utos ni Plaridel na nagpapatunay ng kanyang impluwensiya maging sa mga masa.

Batay naman sa salaysay ni Mariano Ponce, sinabi ni Cortez na si Plaridel ang nag-turo sa kanila (Ponce) ng pag-mamahal sa tinubuang lupa.

Ang pagtuturong ito ay na-ganap sa Distrito Trozo ng Tondo malapit sa bakuran ng University of Santo Tomas (UST) sa Maynila kung saan ay natira si Plaridel sa ba-hay ni Padre Mariano Sevilla noong 1880.

Ang nasabing distrito, ayon kay Cortez ay pugad ng mga Pilipinong may makabayang kaisipan katulad nina Pedro Serrano-Laktaw, Emilio Ja-cinto, Jose Dizon, Macario Sakay, Jose Ramos, Jose Rizal at marami pang iba.

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

8

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 47TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE 5TH SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF THE CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA HELD AT THE FORTUNE RESTAURANT, JOSE ABAD SANTOS AVENUE, CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA ON THE 2ND DAY OF JUNE 2014

PRESENT: Hon. JAIME T. LAZATIN .................. Presiding Offi cerHon. ANGELICA O. HIZON ......... MemberHon. RALPH DANIEL M. HENSON ............ MemberHon. NOEL T. TULABUT ......... Member Hon. BENEDICT JASPER SIMON R. LAGMAN..... Member Hon. AYZEL MARI-GRACE N. MACALINO....... MemberHon. NELSON G. LINGAT ............ MemberHon. JOSELITO R. OCAMPO ...... Member Hon. HARVEY A. QUIWA ............. MemberHon. CELESTINO S. DIZON......... MemberHon. JACKLYN RACHELLE G. CALIMLIM....... MemberHon. ANGEL M. WIJANGCO ....... Member (LBC Pres.)

ABSENT: NONE

ORDINANCE NO. 2014-008(Sponsor/Author: Honorable Benedict Jasper Simon R. Lagman)

AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS WHILE PROMOTING THE USE OF REUSABLE BAGS, PROHIBITING THE USE OF POLYSTYRENE FOR FOOD PRODUCTS IN THE CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA, PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 6 of the Philippine Constitution provides that the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature;

WHEREAS, Section 3 (I) of Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the local government units shall share with the national government the responsibility in the management and maintenance of ecological balance within their territorial jurisdiction;

WHEREAS, Section 16 of the said Code provides that the local government units (LGUS) shall maintain ecological balance, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants;

WHEREAS, Section 458 (VI) of said Code empowers the Sangguniang Panlungsod to protect the environment and impose appropriate penalties for acts which endanger the environment including such activities which result in pollution, acceleration or eutrophication of rivers and lakes or ecological imbalance;

WHEREAS, Article I, Section 2(c) of RA 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, declares that the State shall adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program which shall set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through source reduction and waste minimization measures;

WHEREAS, RA 9003 requires LGUs to reduce solid wastes by twenty fi ve percent (25%) percent every fi ve years from its effectivity, an order which is extremely challenging for as long as the throw away culture and the Not-In-My-Back-Yard (NIMBY) syndrome of constituents persist;

WHEREAS, the National Climate Change Action Plan 2011-2028 has included the regulation of the use of single-use and toxic packaging materials in order to develop, promote and sustain green cities and municipalities in the country;

WHEREAS, plastic bags top the debris collected in the Philippine water bodies contributing to water pollution and killing of marine life as released in the marine index by Ocean Conservancy in 2009 which document the debris collected during the International Coastal Clean-up of the previous year; with the plastic bags as the top marine wastes collected in the Philippines amounting to 679,957 pounds;

WHEREAS, polystyrene products ranks second with 20.74% from 12 categories in the waste audit conducted by Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Greenpeace and Eco-Waste Coalition in Manila Bay in 2010;

WHEREAS, plastic bags and polystyrene are made of petroleum product, a non-renewable resource that we are running-out of, thus, the need to eliminate our dependency of;

WHEREAS, polystyrene contains styrene and benzene, suspected carcinogens and neurotoxins that are hazardous to humans;

WHEREAS, the Philippines is experiencing aggravated fl ooding in recent years due to plastic wastes clogging our waterways where taxpayers also spend signifi cant amount of public funds for de-clogging operations;

WHEREAS, plastic bags and polystyrene usually end up as residual wastes due to its no or low market value and if recovered and down-cycled possess a relatively high operating cost thereby, the unregulated use thereof compels the LGUs to spend a considerable amount of public funds for maintenance and operational expenses on proper residual waste disposal, which could have been allocated to important needs of the people such as health, education, environmental protection, agriculture, among others;

WHEREAS, the pervasive use of plastic bags and polystyrene symbolizes our unsustainable disposable mentality, an unfortunate mindset that discards valuable resources and ignores our inherent rights to health and a healthy environment;

Republic of the PhilippinesProvince of PampangaCity of San Fernando

OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

9

WHEREAS, local and best indigenous alternatives to plastic use are available and could boost community-led livelihood practices as well as reduce the carbon footprint of the fi nal reusable products;

WHEREAS, this Ordinance primarily aims to reduce the generated plastic or solid wastes through waste avoidance which eventually aid in reducing the volume of solid wastes and cost of solid waste management and disposal by the City of San Fernando, promote indigenous reusable bags alternatives available and could provide livelihood to communities and protect the health, safety and welfare of the people and the environment;

NOW THEREFORE, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga adopts as it hereby adopts the following Ordinance:

ARTICLE ITITLE

Section 1. Title This Ordinance shall be known as:

THE PLASTIC-FREE ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA

Section 2. Scope This ordinance shall be applied to all stallowners, tables and block occupants doing business in the two (2) Public Markets, all stores/businesses operating in the city, and all people purchasing food or other materials within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

Section 3. Purpose This Ordinance aims to attain the following objectives:

3.1 to encourage the stakeholders to minimize the use of plastic bags and polystyrene products on their daily activities;

3.2 to promote the use of indigenous reusable bags or eco bags as an alternative to plastic bags;

3.3 to promote livelihood projects related to this ordinance such as indigenous reusable bag making;

3.4 to decrease the volume of generated plastic or solid wastes, thus, reducing the cost of solid waste management and disposal which is funded by the City Government;

3.5 to get rid of solid wastes that clog waterways and drainages, thereby, preventing or at least mitigating aggravated fl ood occurrences in the city.

Section 4. Declaration of Policy It is the declared policy of the City Government of San Fernando, Pampanga to adopt an institutionalized program/policy on the protection, preservation and sustainability of the environment by adopting measures to discourage the use of plastics, the primary source of clogging along water tributaries such as rivers and creeks; the deterioration of the environment specially when burned to ensure and protect the constitutional rights of the future generations to live in a healthy environment as enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution and special laws.

In accordance to this policy, the City Government of San Fernando, Pampanga designates the City Environment and Natural Resources Offi ce (CENRO) in coordination with the Mother Earth Foundation, Inc. and all stakeholders to implement effectively this Ordinance as part of its commitment to achieve an effi cient and effective scheme of reducing solid wastes in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, for the protection of the environment.

Section 5. Defi nition of Terms The following defi nitions, as applied in this Ordinance, shall mean:

Customer means any person purchasing food or other materials from an affected retail establishment or store;

Dry goods refers to any product that does not require refrigeration or freezing to maintain freshness such as clothing, school supplies and the like;

Store means any retail establishment engaged in commerce or sale of goods or services, including but not limited to market stores, shopping mall outlets, supermarkets, department stores, wet markets, convenience stores, food chains, restaurants, cafes, bars, sari-sari stores, bakeries, ambulant vendors and the like;

Operator means the person or group of persons in control of, or having the responsibility for the operation of a store, which may include, but not limited to the owner of the store;

Person means any natural person, fi rm, corporation, partnership, or other organization or group however organized;

Plastic bags also known as sando bags, pouch, plastic shopping bags and plastic fi lm bags; any bag made predominantly of plastic derived from either petroleum or biologically based source, such as corn or other plant sources, which is provided to a customer at the point of sale.

Primary packaging refers to those type of packaging for wet foods, snack foods, frozen foods and the like;

Recyclable means a material that can be sorted, cleansed, and reconstituted using available recycling collection programs; Recycling does not include burning, incinerating, converting, or otherwise thermally destroying solid waste;

Recyclable paper carryout bag means a paper bag that meets all of the following requirements: (1) is one hundred (100%) percent recyclable; and (2) capable of composting;

Polystyrene is a petroleum-based packaging material used as food containers, disposable cups, plates, etc;

Product container means any container used to carry produce, meats, or other food items to the point of sale inside a store or to prevent such food items from coming into direct contact with other purchased items. These may include reusable wares or bottles, banana leaves and the like;

Reusable bag means a bag with handles that is specifi cally designed and manufactured for multiple reuse for the same purpose as carry-out bag and meets all of the following requirements (1) is made of cloth (biodegradable), washable or is made from a material that can be cleansed or disinfected; (2) does not contain lead, cadmium or any heavy metal. This also includes native woven bags made of indigenous materials such as pandan, water hyacinth, buli, abaca and other similar materials;

Secondary packaging refers to those types of packaging materials for wet goods to provide support to any primary packaging and intended for convenience of the handler, as well; and

Wet goods refers to any product that requires refrigeration or freezing to maintain freshness such as fi sh, meat, poultry products, fruits, vegetables, beverages and cooked foods;

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

10

ARTICLE IIPROHIBITED ACTS

Section 6. Prohibited Acts. - The following shall be strictly observed by any and all residents and transients or anyone doing business in the city:

6.a After three (3) months from the approval of this Ordinance:

i. Every Friday of the week shall be declared as a Plastic Regulation Day wherein no store shall utilize or provide for FREE plastic bags as primary and secondary packaging materials on dry goods to customers except those pre-packed goods by the manufacturers.

ii. No store shall utilize, sell or provide polystyrene as packaging material or container for food products to customers.

6.b After six (6) months from the approval of this Ordinance:

i. No store shall utilize or provide for FREE plastic bags as primary and secondary packaging materials on dry and wet goods to customers except those pre-packed goods by the manufacturers. A product container for wet goods shall be available for sale at reasonable price to the customers.

ii. No store shall utilize, sell or provide polystyrene as packaging material or container for food products to customers.

6.c After one (1) year from approval of this Ordinance:

i. No store shall utilize, sell or provide plastic bags as primary and secondary packaging materials on dry and wet goods to customers except those pre-packed goods by the manufacturers.

ARTICLE III PROMOTION OF REUSABLE AND WOVEN BAGS

Section 7. Reusable and Woven bags All stores shall make available for sale reusable bags and woven bags for the purpose of carrying out goods or other materials from the point of sale, subject to the terms of this Ordinance. Nothing herein, however, prohibits customers from using bags of any type that they may bring to the store themselves or from carrying away goods that are not placed in bag, in lieu of using bags provided by the store;

Section 8. Promotion of Reusable Wares All stores shall be encouraged to use reusable wares as alternative to polystyrene containers for food products. For take-out customers, any additional cost, which may come from cost of such reusable wares, may be charged to the customers. PROVIDED, however, that the cost shall be refl ected on the customers receipt.

Stores shall ensure that their staff/workers are well-informed on the provisions of this Ordinance. Visible signages regarding the Ordinance shall be displayed in their establishments.

ARTICLE IVREGULATION OF PLASTIC AND PAPER CARRY OUT BAGS

Section 9. Regulation of Plastic Bags The City through the CENRO shall be directly responsible in effecting the regulations on the use of plastic bags and paper carry out bags. Subject to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, any store providing a plastic bag for primary and secondary packaging to a customer, in accordance to the provision of Section 6 hereof, may charge a minimum of FOUR (4) PESOS for each plastic bag regardless of its size. The cost, however, shall be indicated in the customers receipt.

Section 10. Regulation of Recyclable Paper/Carry out Bags Subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, any store providing a recyclable paper/ carryout bag to customer may charge a minimum of ONE (1) PESO for each recyclable paper/carryout bag regardless of its size. The cost shall be indicated in the customers receipt.

Section 11. Plastic Bag and Polystyrene Recovery All stores that provide plastic bags and polystyrene to consumers as part of a purchased item shall establish an in-store recovery program that will give their customers an opportunity to return their used plastic bags and polystyrene for a period of one (1) year.

An in-store recovery program provided by the operator of said commercial establishment shall include the following:

a) A plastic bag and polystyrene recovery bin shall be placed at each store or cluster of stores and shall be visible, easily accessible to the costumer, and clearly marked that the recovery bin is available for the purpose of collecting, recycling and disposal of plastic bags and polystyrene.

b) The City Government shall make sure that plastic bags and polystyrene recovered by stores are collected by the plastic manufacturer/distributor which will then facilitate its transportation to accredited recycling facilities.

ARTICLE VINFORMATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND CREATION

OF THE PLASTIC WASTE REDUCTION MONITORING TEAM

Section 12. Information, Education and Communication Upon the approval of this Ordinance, the City, through the CENRO with support from Barangay offi cials, Public Information Offi ce (CIO) and City General Services Offi ce (CGSO), partners from non-government organizations, peoples organizations, chambers of commerce, media and the academe shall lead the massive information and education dissemination of this Ordinance including the promotion of alternative packaging materials.

To ensure the smooth and effective implementation of this Ordinance, six (6) months is hereby allotted to allow time for affected store operators to adapt to the provisions of this Ordinance; for consumers to gradually adapt the use of reusable and woven bags and reusable wares; and to enable the City Government to work with members of the community and stakeholders.

Section 13. Creation of a Plastic Waste Reduction Monitoring Team. The City Government hereby creates a Plastic Waste Reduction Monitoring Team that shall assist the City on its implementation schedule and to evaluate whether it has attained within one (1) year after the effectivity of this Ordinance, the target reduction of wastes by at least 25% of its residual plastic wastes. After which, the waste reduction goals shall be increased to 10% every year thereafter; Provided that, nothing in this Section shall prohibit the City from implementing activities designed to exceed the goal.

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

11

ARTICLE VIMONIES COLLECTED BY STALLS

Section 14. Distribution of Monies Collected The monies collected in the implementation of this Ordinance shall be distributed as follows:a. Fifty percent (50%) of all monies collected under Sections 9 and 10 hereof, shall be retained by the store and may be used only for the

costs associated with the compliance on the requirements of aforesaid Sections, cost for in-store recovery program and educational materials or education campaign encouraging the use of reusable and woven bags. An annual report shall be made by the store to the City Government, as part of the requirements for renewal of its Business Permit.

b. Fifty percent (50%) of all monies collected under Sections 6 and 7 hereof, shall be remitted to the City and shall be part of the Trust Fund in accordance to Section 16 hereof.

c. The time of remittance for all monies coming from all stores/businesses operating in the city including the public markets shall be semiannually. The said monies shall be remitted directly to the Offi ce of the City Treasurer.

ARTICLE VIIIMPLEMENTING OFFICE

Section 15. Implementation. The CENRO shall be the primary offi ce responsible for the implementation of this Ordinance. The CENRO Head is hereby authorized together with the support of the abovementioned offi ces and stakeholders to take any and all actions reasonable and necessary to enforce this Ordinance, including but not limited to investigating violations, issuing fi nes and entering the premises, to enforce the provisions of this Ordinance, of any store during offi ce hours.

ARTICLE VIIITRUST FUND

Section 16. Trust Fund There is hereby created a Trust Fund for all fi nes collected under this Ordinance which shall be used exclusively as follows: a. To assist in the implementation and enforcement of the requirements of this Ordinance, incentives, production of reusable and woven bags as

giveaway, targeting the low-income residents and as capital for low-income residents or communities to pursue business in the manufacture and distribution of woven and reusable bags;

b. To encourage public-private partnerships, at least Forty percent (40%) of the Trust Fund shall be earmarked for environmental and solid waste projects of the City implemented in partnership with a duly recognized non-government organization (NGO).

ARTICLE IXPENALTIES

Section 17. Penalties Any person, whether natural or juridical, who violates any and all of the provisions of this Ordinance, shall be meted the following fi nes and penalties:

1. First Offense - A warning with compulsory attendance to a Values Formation Seminar;

2. Second Offense - A fi ne of One Thousand (P1,000.00) Pesos

3. Third Offense - A fi ne of Three Thousand (P 3,000.00)

4. Fourth and Succeeding Offenses - Cancellation of the Business Permit to operate The imposition of the above mentioned penalties shall be without prejudice to the fi ling of appropriate criminal offenses against the offender under the Revised Penal Code and R.A. 9003.

ARTICLE XSEPARABILITY AND EFFECTIVITY CLAUSES

Section 18. Separability Clause. If any part of this Ordinance is declared illegal or unlawful by a competent court, such declaration shall not affect the other parts or Sections hereof;

Section 19. Repealing Clause All Ordinances, Local Issuances, Rules and Regulations inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby repealed or modifi ed accordingly;

Section 20. Effectivity This Ordinance shall take effect six (6) months after its approval and the satisfaction of its required publication in newspapers of general circulation for three (3) weeks in the Province of Pampanga and the posting of the same in the citys Old and New Public Markets, 35 barangays and all conspicuous places in the City Hall

ADOPTED this 2nd day of June 2014

x---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x

I hereby certify to the correctness of the foregoing Ordinance adopted by the 5th Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga during its 47th Regular Session held on June 2, 2014.

AVELINA M. LACANILAO-LAGMAN Secretary to the Sanggunian

ATTESTED TO BE DULY ADOPTED:

Hon. JAIME T. LAZATIN City Vice Mayor Presiding Offi cer

APPROVED:

Hon. EDWIN D. SANTIAGO June 13, 2014City Mayor Date

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

12

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESREGIONAL TRIAL COURTTHIRD JUDICIAL REGION

OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURTANGELES CITY

REDENTOR M. VERGARA, Petitioner/Mortgagee, EJF CASE NO. FC NO. 2014-1043 FOR: EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE UNDER ACT 3135, AS AMENDED

CATALINA VDA. DE GUZMAN O.R. NO. 2457915 P9,240.00 Respondent/Mortgagor.

x------------------------------------------xNOTICE OF SHERIFFS SALE

Upon Extra-Judicial Petition for Sale under Act 3135, as amended by Act No. 4118 fi led by the above-named Petitoner/Mortgagee Redentor M. Vergara with residence and postal address at 6972 Dungca Avenida Xevera, Calibutbut, Bacolor, Pampanga against the respondents/mortgagors Catalina VDA. De Guzman with residence and postal address at 258 Lakandula Street, Angeles City in order to satisfy the mortgage debt which as of May 23, 2014 amounting to One Million Pesos only (P1,000,000.00) Philippine currency, inclusive of penalties and other charges incurred in the fi ling of this foreclosure aside from expenses of collection and other charges allowed by law, the undersigned Sheriff IV hereby gives notice and announces that on July 9, 2014 at 10:00 oclock in the morning, at the Offi ce of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, Hall of Justice, Pulung Maragul, Angeles City, the following parcel of land with all existing improvements and future improvements thereon, to wit;

T.C.T. NO. 67761A parcel of land (Lot No. 469 of the Cadastral Survey of

Angeles City), with all building and improvements, except those herein expressly noted as belonging to other persons, situated in the Municipality of Angeles. Bounded on the NE., by Lot No. 470; on the SE., by the Lacandula Street; on the SW., by Lot No. 468; and on the NW., by Lot No. 464. x x x x containing an area of TWO HUNDRED FORTY NINE (249) SQUARE METERS, more or less x x x

Prospective buyers/bidders may investigate for themselves the above-mentioned parcel/s of land for their information and protection.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on July 16, 2014 at the same time and place without further notice.

Angeles City, June 5, 2014.

PEPITO G. PAMINTUAN Sheriff IV Copy furnished:

Redentor M. Vergara Catalina VDA. De Guzman6972 Dungca Avenida Xevera 258 Lakandula StreetCalibutbut, Bacolor, Pampanga Angeles City

PUNTO! Central Luzon: June 11, 18 & 25, 2014

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESREGIONAL TRIAL COURTTHIRD JUDICIAL REGION

BRANCH 59ANGELES CITY

IN RE: IN THE MATTER FOR THE ADOPTION OF MINOR ANTONIO MORALES,

SP. PROC. CASE NO. 9126SPS. ANTHONY MAGLALANG SULLER AND WINNIE ANTONIO SULLER,

Petitioners.x---------------------------------------------------------------------------x

ORDERBefore this court is a verifi ed Petition for the Adoption of Minor Child

Antonio Morales, the material allegations of which are as follows:Petitioners-spouses Anthony Malalang Suller and Winnie Antonio Suller

are husband and wife and residents of No. 6 Calle Filipina, Villa Angela, Brgy. Sto. Domingo, Angeles City. Minor Antonio Morales is one o the children of Herminia Morales, whom the petitioners desire to adopt. The petitioners married on July 3, 2002 at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 62, Hall of Justice, Angeles City.

Minor Antonio Morales was born October 2, 2012 in Angeles City. The biological mother of the minor, Herminia Morales had given her express consent to the adoption. Minor child Antonio Morales is only one year and four months old, hence, his consent to the adoption is unnecessary at this time.

Petitioners have been providing for the minors fi nancial, moral, physical and spiritual well-being; minor child has no known property whether real or personal except his personal belongings that were provided by the petitioners. The petitioners are fi nancially capacitated to adopt minor Antonio Morales as they are both overseas workers based in Canada. Petitioner-husband is a farm assistant at Rainbow Dairy Limited while petitioner-wife is a registered nurse at the Southern Regional Health Authority. They were able to acquire real and movable properties and were able to save a considerable amount deposited in the bank. Petitioners are in full possession of their civil rights and have never been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude in the Philippines and abroad. They possess all the qualifi cations and none of the disqualifi cations as may be provided by law.

The petitioners are physically healthy and psychologically fi t to adopt said minor child and likewise, the minor is physically and mentally fi t to be adopted. They have no child of their own, are more than sixteen (16) older than the adoptee, and are in a position to support and care for the minor child in keeping with the means of the family. Petitioners underwent pre-adoption services conducted by Court Social Worker Zenaida C. David, the result of which reveals that the petitioners are legally qualifi ed to adopt the minor child. The adoption of minor child Antonio Morales, would be for his best interest and well-being.

The court fi nds the Petition suffi cient in form and substance and therefore sets it for hearing on November 20, 2014 at 9:00 oclock in the morning, on which date and hour any person who may have an interest in or may be affected by the Petition is ordered to appear and signify his/her opposition thereto and show cause why it should not be granted.

Let this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in Punto Central Luzon, a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Pampanga and Angeles City, which was selected by raffl e under the supervision of the Executive Judge, at the expense of the petitioners.

Furnish the Offi ce of the Solicitor General and Offi ce of the City Prosecutor of Angeles City with copies hereof and the Petition with annexes.

Serve copies of this Order upon the petitioners, their counsel, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Statistics Offi ce, SWOII Zenaida C. David, the minors biological mother and Punto Central Luzon.

SO ORDERED.Angeles City, Philippines, May 28, 2014.

MA. ANGELICA T. PARAS-QUIAMBAOPresiding Judge

Punto! Central Luzon: June 4, 11 & 18, 2014

ERRATUMIn the NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE, re: EF No. 38-14 of our May

28, June 4 & 11, 2014 issues, the TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 687067-R should be:

A parcel of land (Lot 93, Blk. 74 of the cons.-subd. plan, Pcs-03-015720, being a portion of Lots 3008-P-4, 3008-P-P-5, 3008-P-7, Psd-141126, Lot 3008-P-6-A to Lot 2003-P-6-H, Psd-159019, L.R.C. Rec. No.) situated in the Brgy. of Calibutbut, Mun. of Bacolor, Prov. of Pamp. xxx containing an area of FORTY FIVE SQUARE METERS AND FIFTY DECIMETERS (45.50). xxx

and not as earlier published.Punto! Central Luzon: June 18, 2014

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENTNotice is hereby given that the heirs of ALLAN JOSEPH T. DE DIOS who

died intestate on March 10, 2014 in the San Fernandino Hospital, Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga executed an Affi davit of Extrajudicial Settlement of his estate, more particularly described as follows, to wit:

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 307195-RA parcel of land (Lot 20, Blk. 29, Res II of the subd. plan Psd-

03-023089, being a portion of Lot 5038-D, Psd-03-001902, LRC Rec. No.), situated in the Bo. of San Jose, Mun. of San Fdo., Prov. of Pamp.

ONE-HALF () SHARE INTRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 604753-R

A parcel of land (Lot 2648-B-1 of the subd. plan Psd-03-112269, being a portion of Lot 2648-E, (LRC) Psd-46585 L.R.C. Rec. No.), situated in the Bo. of Panipuan & Acli, Mun. of Mexico, Prov. of Pamp.

ONE-HALF () SHARE INTRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 574923-R

A parcel of land (Lot 7, Blk. 14), situated in the Bo. of San Juan, City of San Fernando, Province of Pampanga.

ONE-HALF () SHARE INTRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 571133-R

A parcel of land (Lot 6, Blk. 14, Psd-62698), situated in the Bo. of San Juan, City of San Fernando, Province of Pampanga.

ONE-HALF () SHARE INTRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 571134-R

A parcel of land (Lot 2, Blk. 14, Psd-62698), situated in the Bo. of San Juan, City of San Fernando, Province of Pampanga.

ONE-HALF () SHARE INTRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 571135-R

A parcel of land (Lot 5, Blk. 14 of the subd. plan Psd-62698 Sht 2, being a portion of Lot 3582-A, of plan (LRC) Psd-3424, LRC Rec. No. 145), situated in the Bo. of San Juan, Mun. of San Fdo., Prov. of Pamp.

ONE-HALF () SHARE INTRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 571136-R

A parcel of land (Lot 3, Blk. 4 of the subd. plan Sht. 2, being a portion of Lot 3582-A, of plan Psd-3424, LRC Rec. No. 145), situated in the Bo. of San Juan, Mun. of San Fdo., Prov. of Pamp.

ONE-HALF () SHARE INTRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 571137-R

A parcel of land (Lot 4, Blk. 14 of the subd. plan Psd-62698, Sht. being a portion of Lot 3782-A of plan (LRC) Psd-3424, LRC Rec. No. 145), situated in the Bo. of San Juan, Mun. of San Fdo., Prov. of Pamp.

ONE-HALF () SHARE INTRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 571138-R

A parcel of land (Lot 1, Blk. 14 of the cons-subd. plan Psd-62698, Sht. 2, being a portion of Lot 3582-A, of plan (LRC) Psd-3424, LRC Rec. No. 145), situated in the Bo. of San Juan, Mun. of San Fdo., Prov. of Pamp.

SHARES OF STOCK1. P.R. De Dios Construction, Inc. - 1,200 shares subscribed2. R.R. Tandem Construction Corporation - 10,000 shares subscribed3. Petron Corporation Stock Certifi cate Number Number of Shares 1303694 500 1520032 500 774246 400 427249 1,600

CLUB MEMBERSHIP1. Mimosa Golf & Country Club Membership Number Certifi cate Number C0087 GC-0178

MOVABLE PROPERTIES1. Nissan Patrol Wagon with Plate Number WFS 293

before Notary Public Victor B. Roque as per Doc No. 88, Page No. 19, Book No. 8, Series of 2014.

Punto! Central Luzon: June 18, 25 & July 2, 2014

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENTNotice is hereby given that the heirs of ISMAEL C. BAUTISTA who died

intestate on November 28, 2006 in Cabanatuan City executed an Affi davit of Extrajudicial Settlement with Waiver of Rights ans Sale of his estate, more particularly described as a parcel of land (Lot 111, Psd-03-027368 (OLT), being a portion of Lot 726, Cabanatuan Cadastre) situated in the Bo. of Valle Cruz, Cabanatuan City, Province of Nueva Ecija and covered by Transfer Certifi cate of Title No. T-3972, Emancipation Patent No. 416699, before Notary Public Jade M. Valdez-Marrack as per Doc No. 120, Page No. 25, Book No. III, Series of 2014.

Punto! Central Luzon: June 18, 25 & July 2, 2014

try of Panhua in Subic attests to the growing attractiveness of the country to foreign invest-

Chinese fi rm pledges P9-B investmentFROM PAGE 1 ments.

The Philippines is currently enjoying a BBB rating from Standard and Poors, which means that the country has ad-

equate capacity to meet fi nancial commitments, Garcia noted.

He added that more foreign direct invest-ments (FDIs) are pouring into the Philippines be-cause it has earned the trust of investors after it received investment up-grades from different rat-

ing fi rms.The Panhua Group is

a large-scale conglom-erate, manufacturer, ex-porter, and wholesale supplier of cold-rolled steel coil, cold-rolled steel sheet, galvanized steel coil, galvanized steel sheet, pre-paint-ed galvanized steel coil,

and pre-painted galva-nized steel coil sheet.

With an annual steel production capacity of 1.5 metric tons, Panhua Group Co. Ltd. is listed among the 500 top pri-vate enterprises in China.

The fi rms main man-ufacturing bases, which have a registered capital of $100 million, are locat-ed in Zhangjiagang City and Fuling District, as well as Chongqing City in mainland China.

Company offi cials said its proposed Subic Bay Freeport operations are expected to augment its production, as it has pegged its export target at 42,000 metric tons per month to begin in the fi rst quarter of 2016.

Panhuas newly-ap-proved project in Subic will be located at Subic Bay Gateway Park Phase 2 and will initially be manned by 100 em-ployees.

BY ERNIE ESCONDE

BALANGA City - Police are on the hunt for a teenaged housemaid suspected of stabbing to death on Tuesday before noon her woman employer whom she has reported-ly worked for for merely a week.

Subject of the chase is Elsa Napigkit, 18, native of Dipolog City but residing in Marilao, Bulacan, the main suspect in the killing of businesswoman Josie Garcia, 46, of TaglesVille Subidivision in this

Teen housemaid for a week stabs to death lady employercity.

SPO1 Teodolfo Endonilla, Bal-anga City police investigator, said the businesswoman suffered multi-ple stab wounds on the neck, face, chest and other parts of the body from a kitchen knife that scene of the crime operatives recovered.

A son of the victim who just went home from school at about 11:30 a.m. found his mother lifeless and sprawled in blood inside a room near the comfort room at the second floor of their residence.

Endonilla said that they were also looking into recovered new-ly-washed dress with blood stains the suspect might have used and changed with another clothes.

Janice Vitangcol, the victims younger sister, said the maid was only a week under the employ of her sister. May nagrekomenda lang sa kapatid ko, she said.

Nory Salavaria, manicurist in one of two beauty salons operat-ed by the victim, confirmed that the kasambahay was employed for only

a week. Maliit na babaing payat, maitim, she answered when asked what the maid looked like.

The manicurist described their woman employer as mabait, pwedeng hingan ng tulong agad-agad.

Nasabi sa amin ni maam ka-hapon (Monday) na nagsumbong ang anak niya na ginalaw ang bag ng girlfriend kaya napangaralan ang maid. Sinabihan pa raw niya na may CCTV sa bahay at pabu-buksan sa pulis, Salavaria said.

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

13

CLARK FREEPORT Nothing can stop you in having fun at Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Parks! To give you a tri-ple treat, delights and eats, Fontana is pleased to announce its promos for vil-las and hotel room, water facilities and, food and beverage.

Fontanas Travel Fun consists of three sub-promos namely All-In Fun, Staycation Fun and Barkada Fun.

All-In Fun gives you an overnight stay, Water Theme Park tickets, Fon-tana Hot Spring tickets, free use of Olympic-size pool and gym facilities, breakfast, welcome drinks by paying full rate only on accommodation.

By choosing Staycation Fun, you get 40% off on overnight accommoda-tion and still have welcome drinks and free use of gym facilities and Olym-pic-size pool.

Share great memories with your friends and/or family by availing of the Barkada Fun promo! Pay only PHP2450 per head and get bed and breakfast with Water Theme Park tick-ets.

Fontanas Water Fun promo is a treat for all those who love to swim and enjoy in Fontanas Water facilities. For only PHP375 from Tuesdays to Thurs-days and PHP475 on Saturdays and Sundays, get all access to all water fa-cilities such as the Water Theme Park, Olympic-size pool and Hot Springs through the All Water Fun sub-promo. You even have a PHP50 meal coupon. As the Water Theme Park is closed on Mondays, take a relaxing plunge in the Fontana Hot Springs for only PHP150.

With the Back to School Swim promo, a group of ten students can get 50% off on Water Theme Park tickets. To top it off, you can get one additional ticket for your teacher for free!

Meanwhile, get 50% off on your next visit to the Water Theme Park,

More fun in Fontana!within two weeks, by presenting your previous receipt. This is our way of saying Welcome Back!

Our Global Gastronomy week-end buffet at Caf Fontana will make your mouths water with Junes Irre-sistible Italian, Julys Thai Temptations and Septembers Mediterranean Mas-terpieces. Travel the world while dining and get amazingly fun discounts and freebies. See fl yers for more details. Beat the rainy weathers cold with the rich taste of authentic Filipino soups with our Family Steaming Soup and get a free gift!

Visit the newest addition to Fontana! Our Coffee, Tea and Juice Bar at the Piano Lounge is now fully operational! Get the fi nest brews and most refresh-ing blends in very affordable prizes while exploring the delicious tastes of our very own pastries and cakes!

Our members will also get enjoy more discounts and privileges through the Membership Fun. In this promo, members are able to use a Letter of Authorization (LOA) seven days a week, use one Privilege Night Coupon (PNC) with an LOA for one villa on Fri-days and Saturdays and use two PNCs with an LOA for two villas on Sundays to Thursdays.

Be part of an unforgettable musi-cal experience in Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Parks as we present Stephen Bishop, the internationally acclaimed singer of It Might Be You, Something New in My Life and Never Letting Go.

Stephen Bishop will perform live on July 26, 2014 in Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Parks with special guest, Lara Cuevas.

Travel treats, swimming feats and delights to eat at Fontana will surely make stay worthwhile. Choose Fon-tanawhere the fl ow of adventure never ends.

BY DING CERVANTES

ANGELES CITY- With the rainy season already catch-ing up with projects lined up for completion before the Asia Pacifi c Economic Coopera-tion (APEC) summit here in January next year, Mayor Ed-gardo Pamintuan warned yes-terday contractors to hasten work or face charges.

I am giving local contrac-tors a week to go back to nor-mal working operations at the Pandan-Magalang Road widening project, Pamintuan said, referring to the P60-mil-lion project under the Depart-ment of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Pamintuan said he was dismayed over the progress of all projects under the DPWH in this city which is slated to host some 3,000 APEC sum-mit participants at nearby Clark Freeport this January.

Finish the projects fast or we will fi le cases, Pamintuan warned, demanding overtime work from the contractors.

Pamintuan also urged the DPWH to disqualify the con-tractors if they cant catch up.

The widening of the Pan-dan-Magalang Road has been stalled a second time even as JQG Construction fi rm claimed it had to wait yet for the completion of some of 31 drainages in the area fi rst.

But Pamintuan also cit-ed red-tape and other pro-cedural quandaries espe-cially in the regional offi ce of the DPWH that hamper

AC HOSTING APEC 2015 SUMMIT

EdPam to fi le case vs. slow contractorsthe progress on the proj-ects. He did not give details.Another less costly project totally abandoned by its con-tractor is the upgrading of 6th street near Clark, the short-est alternative route at the boundary of Mabalacat and Angeles City in lieu of the of-ten traffi c-clogged MacAr-thur Highway. The contractor was noted to have removed the roads potholed concrete and then abandoned the road which turns into totally im-passable thick mud during rains. The concrete slabs from the road have also be-come an eyesore in the area.Earlier last May, Pamintu-an had already decried slow work on major projects lined up for completion before next years APEC summit. It seems that our repeated ap-peals have fallen upon deaf ears and they continuously disregard our call to speed up these road improvement proj-ects, he lamented.

The mayor noted that the city governments Facebook account has been receiving mounting complaints from irate residents adversely af-fected by the delays in the construction of the projects. He noted that the city govern-ment has even offered assis-tance to DPWH to address all issues and problems stalling construction works like road right of way problems and road obstructions such as un-cut trees and electric posts.Apart from the Pandan-Ma-galang Road and 6th street,

the other projects being rushed for the APEC sum-mit include upgrading of the Mac-Arthur Highway in the Balibago commercial district costing P41.5 million, and the Friendship Road costing P100 million; and the widen-ing and upgrade of the drain-age system along Don Bonifa-

cio Road costing P19 million.The projects also include footbridges across busy roads now also underway, including one costing P22 million in front of the Cheva-lier School near the bound-ary of Angeles and the cap-ital city of San Fernando. Another footbridge is being

eyed across the highway in Balibago district in front of Systems Plus School.These footbridges have to be constructed now in order to ensure the smooth fl ow of traffi c and the safety of our students and other pedes-trians crossing Mac Arthur Highway, Pamintuan added.

BY ASHLEY MANABAT

CLARK FREEPORT Im-ages of New York City take center stage in this years celebration of Filipino-Amer-ican Friendship Day as a photo exhibit coinciding with the July 4 celebration takes place at the SM City here.

The exhibit dubbed, I Love New York will fea-ture photos of varying sub-jects taken by journalist and newspaper columnist Noel G. Tulabut while covering the United Nations General Assembly and the initiatives of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York since 2005. It will run at SM City Clark Event Center starting July 1 to 6.

The photos cover various subjects like memorials from the 9-11 terrorists attack, hu-man interests, street scenes, cityscapes, famous land-

marks as well as events and festivities.

This exhibit is not entirely about the Big Apple. It will also feature activities of our fellow Filipinos in New York like the annual Philippine Indepen-dence Day celebration, Tula-but said.

The photos compiled by the newspaper columnist were taken from point-and-shoot cameras and from his cell-phone cameras as well.

I must admit I am not a professional photographer but I thought I should share some of these shots especially to those who love art especially photography, Tulabut said.

Also to be featured in the photo exhibit are the photos of New York-based Capampan-gan Sam Sanchez who is a photography enthusiast living in Brooklyn.

Journalist-turned-diplomat Elmer Cato, now Minister and

Consul at the Philippine Em-bassy in Washington DC will also have a special participa-tion with his award deserv-ing photos taken in the Man-hattan District.

It may be of interest to someone that Mr. Sanchezs participation will not only fea-ture his nice shots. It is also a way of giving him new mean-ing to his life and motivat-ing him to go on living after he was diagnosed with renal failure and is now undergo-ing three dialysis sessions a week since December, Tula-but said.

Major sponsors of the I Love New York photo exhib-it are SM City Clark, Canon Philippines, Asiana Airlines, and Smart Communications.

Supporting the event also are topnotch fashion and still photographer Borj Meneses and 3D animator and video editor Dodjie Aguinaldo.

Scribe sets photo exhibit at SM Clark

PUN

TO! C

EN

TR

AL

LU

ZO

N

JUN

E 1

8 - 2

1, 2

014

WE

DN

ESD

AY -

SAT

UR

DAY

14

FROM PAGE 1

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENTNotice is hereby given that the heirs of FELIX G. BALAT who died intestate

on January 5, 2006 in Angeles City executed an Affi davit of Extrajudicial Settlement with Waiver of Rights of his estate, more particularly described as two (2) parcels of land